Half a century later, off the Galician
coast, the Hispanic Monarchy was
again under threat: the counter-armada
of the English Queen Elizabeth I, led by
Drake and Norreys.
It was 1589, and Mayor Fernández
de Cámara y Pita, known as María Pita,
would go down in history as the heroine
who defended Corunna from the British
attack. The English killed Gregorio de
Rocamunde, her husband, in the middle
of the siege of the city walls.
Full of rage, she took hold of the
spear of the English banner and killed
the ensign who was leading the assault.
Shouting “Whoever has honour, follow
me!”, she managed to make the attackers
withdraw.
Philip II granted her the title of
“outstanding soldier” and a pension
equivalent to the salary of an ensign plus
five escudos a month, also conferring
her a permit to export mules from Spain
to Portugal.
The Military History Museum in
Corunna dedicates one of its galleries to
this figure and displays many exhibits,
such as her portrait or a diorama
recreating the battle.
THE TOBACCONIST SOLDIER
The first Spanish marine was Ana
María de Soto, born in Córdoba in
1775. She boarded the frigate Mercedes
in 1794 posing as a man, using the name
of Antonio María de Soto.
During her military life, she served as
a soldier in the 6th Company of the 11th
Marine Battalion, participating, among
other actions, in the Battle of Cape St
Vincent (1797). She was discharged
four years later when, during a routine
medical examination, it was discovered
that she was a woman.
However, to honour her heroic
behaviour, Charles IV granted her a
daily salary of two billon reals, the rank
of sergeant, and she was also authorized
to use the colours of the naval battalions
and rank insignia of a sergeant on her
women’s clothing.
In 1799, she was granted a license to
run a tobacconist’s in Montilla, and was
thus named the tobacconist soldier. In
the Naval Museum in Cartagena, there
is an area dedicated to her figure, and
the San Fernando Museum preserves
original documents from that period and
a later portrait of her.
This painting of “Queen Isabella the Catholic visiting the Hospital in Toro” is part
of the itinerary “From a woman’s perspective” of the Army Museum in Toledo.
Philip II
awarded
María Pita
the title of
“outstanding
soldier” for
her defence
of Corunna
Standing, sword held
high, Inés Suárez
defends the city of
Santiago.
Watercolour showing the attack by the British squadron led by Francis Drake
April 2020 on Corunna, which can be seen in the city’s military museum.
Revista Española de Defensa 55
Military History Museum in Corunna José Mercedes Ortega/National History Museum in Chile Hélène Gicquel